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Returning guest Kazuma Hashimoto joins the show for a discussion regarding Catherine, the 2011 PS3 cult classic that's soon to receive a remaster with additional content titled Catherine: Full Body. Made by the team behind the Persona series, does Catherine hold up and are there interesting lessons to glean from a deep dive?
Each week we will be tackling a video game, old or new, that at least one of us believes deserves to stand as one of the greatest games of all time. We'll dive into its history, development, and gameplay, while trying to argue for or against the game of the week. Sometimes we will be in harmonious agreement, other times we might be fighting a bitter battle to the very end. However each episode shakes out, we hope that everyone who listens will find the show entertaining and informative.
Outro music: Persona 4 Arena 'Little Arena' by DarkeSword (http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02580)
You can download or listen to the podcast over on Soundcloud, our hosting site, and iTunes. A YouTube version is available as well, so you can watch what we are talking about while we talk about it!
If you want to have your opinion heard on air, share your opinion in the comments, follow the show on Twitter, and participate in the weekly polls: @BestGamesPeriod
You can follow Kazuma on Twitter @JusticeKazzy_ - He's super nice! You can also find his work on Nova Crystallis and RPG Site.
New episodes of The Best Games Period will be released every Monday

Returning guest Kazuma Hashimoto joins the show for a discussion regarding Catherine, the 2011 PS3 cult classic that's soon to receive a remaster with additional content titled Catherine: Full Body. Made by the team behind the Persona series, does Catherine hold up and are there interesting lessons to glean from a deep dive?
Each week we will be tackling a video game, old or new, that at least one of us believes deserves to stand as one of the greatest games of all time. We'll dive into its history, development, and gameplay, while trying to argue for or against the game of the week. Sometimes we will be in harmonious agreement, other times we might be fighting a bitter battle to the very end. However each episode shakes out, we hope that everyone who listens will find the show entertaining and informative.
Outro music: Persona 4 Arena 'Little Arena' by DarkeSword (http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02580)
You can download or listen to the podcast over on Soundcloud, our hosting site, and iTunes. A YouTube version is available as well, so you can watch what we are talking about while we talk about it!
If you want to have your opinion heard on air, share your opinion in the comments, follow the show on Twitter, and participate in the weekly polls: @BestGamesPeriod
You can follow Kazuma on Twitter @JusticeKazzy_ - He's super nice! You can also find his work on Nova Crystallis and RPG Site.
New episodes of The Best Games Period will be released every Monday
View full article

Square Enix has a complete remake of one of the greatest RPGS of all-time in the works, and it's coming sooner than anyone would have expected! The reveal of Secret of Mana comes with a slew of information about what the remake changes and leaves the same, along with a hard release date.
The team working on Secret of Mana has gone to great lengths to keep the classic, top-down gameplay the same while modernizing a number of other aspects. The most obvious change comes with the 3D graphics - a dramatic departure from the Super Nintendo original. The vibrant 3D might not be on par with the likes of the upcoming Final Fantasy VII remake, but it holds a charm all its own. The developers also modernized the controls for the PlayStation 4 controller and the PS Vita.
As the trailer demonstrates, actors will finally give a voice to the text players could only imagine when they played Secret of Mana back in 1993. Randi, Primm, Popoi, and many of the whimsical cast of Secret of Mana will talk and feel more alive than they ever have before. To go along with the new voices, a new soundtrack has been created to fully realize the dreams of the original's composer, Hiroki Kikuta. The soundtrack pays tribute to the original while introducing complementary elements and flourishes that weren't present previously.
Of course, players will still be able to play solo or with up to two friends in local co-op.
For players unfamiliar with Secret of Mana, the story centers on a young man named Randi, a headband-wearing rascal who stumbles upon the Mana Sword, a powerful weapon meant to bring peace to a world in turmoil. With the blade in hand, Randi can harness the power of Mana, a force of unimaginable power and a target for nefarious evildoers throughout the world. He sets out to defeat the forces of evil and is joined along the way by Primm, a fiery noblewoman, and a sprite named Popoi.
Pre-orders are now open for Secret of Mana. Those who take advantage of the offer from PSN receive PSN avatars for the three main characters as well as a moogle suit and tiger suit option for all characters at launch.
Secret of Mana releases February 15, 2018 for the PlayStation 4, PS Vita, and PC. Players too excited to wait can get their hands on the title a bit earlier at PAX West September 1-4.

Square Enix has a complete remake of one of the greatest RPGS of all-time in the works, and it's coming sooner than anyone would have expected! The reveal of Secret of Mana comes with a slew of information about what the remake changes and leaves the same, along with a hard release date.
The team working on Secret of Mana has gone to great lengths to keep the classic, top-down gameplay the same while modernizing a number of other aspects. The most obvious change comes with the 3D graphics - a dramatic departure from the Super Nintendo original. The vibrant 3D might not be on par with the likes of the upcoming Final Fantasy VII remake, but it holds a charm all its own. The developers also modernized the controls for the PlayStation 4 controller and the PS Vita.
As the trailer demonstrates, actors will finally give a voice to the text players could only imagine when they played Secret of Mana back in 1993. Randi, Primm, Popoi, and many of the whimsical cast of Secret of Mana will talk and feel more alive than they ever have before. To go along with the new voices, a new soundtrack has been created to fully realize the dreams of the original's composer, Hiroki Kikuta. The soundtrack pays tribute to the original while introducing complementary elements and flourishes that weren't present previously.
Of course, players will still be able to play solo or with up to two friends in local co-op.
For players unfamiliar with Secret of Mana, the story centers on a young man named Randi, a headband-wearing rascal who stumbles upon the Mana Sword, a powerful weapon meant to bring peace to a world in turmoil. With the blade in hand, Randi can harness the power of Mana, a force of unimaginable power and a target for nefarious evildoers throughout the world. He sets out to defeat the forces of evil and is joined along the way by Primm, a fiery noblewoman, and a sprite named Popoi.
Pre-orders are now open for Secret of Mana. Those who take advantage of the offer from PSN receive PSN avatars for the three main characters as well as a moogle suit and tiger suit option for all characters at launch.
Secret of Mana releases February 15, 2018 for the PlayStation 4, PS Vita, and PC. Players too excited to wait can get their hands on the title a bit earlier at PAX West September 1-4.
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An adorable roguelike is on its way toward becoming a reality as Pixel Princess Blitz reached its funding goal on Kickstarter yesterday. The indie project cleared its €77,700 goal with a whopping €102,418. The money will be used by the Hamburg-based indie group to create the PC version of their sandbox action RPG with a crazy endearing art style. The indie devs plan to port the title to PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch after the PC version of Pixel Princess Blitz releases mid 2018.
Pixel Princess Blitz has huge ambitions to present an open world spread out over a grid that is explored in turn-based form. Encounters and dungeons are tackled in real-time with special attacks, reactive AI, and fluid action. Players will need to use the resources they discover to survive, outfitting themselves with upgradable items. Players who aren't careful could see themselves fall victim to permadeath, a system the devs describe as tough, but fair.
Multiple factions inhabit the world and how players interact with them shapes how the story unfolds. In fact, every NPC that players encounter has a backstory and motivations that they pursue - that might even include a romantic relationship with the protagonist, Kuruna. Strengthening ties to NPCs can yield a slew of benefits, like combat companions and perhaps even the chance that they will show up to save your from the brink of death itself!
Players take on the role of Kuruna, a young adventurer who travels the kingdom of Verad to help those in need. Some strange activities have been reported in the province of Hummingwoods, so Kuruna begins a patrol of the area that quickly becomes much more than she ever imagined.
Keep an eye out for Pixel Princess Blitz sometime next year on PC.

An adorable roguelike is on its way toward becoming a reality as Pixel Princess Blitz reached its funding goal on Kickstarter yesterday. The indie project cleared its €77,700 goal with a whopping €102,418. The money will be used by the Hamburg-based indie group to create the PC version of their sandbox action RPG with a crazy endearing art style. The indie devs plan to port the title to PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch after the PC version of Pixel Princess Blitz releases mid 2018.
Pixel Princess Blitz has huge ambitions to present an open world spread out over a grid that is explored in turn-based form. Encounters and dungeons are tackled in real-time with special attacks, reactive AI, and fluid action. Players will need to use the resources they discover to survive, outfitting themselves with upgradable items. Players who aren't careful could see themselves fall victim to permadeath, a system the devs describe as tough, but fair.
Multiple factions inhabit the world and how players interact with them shapes how the story unfolds. In fact, every NPC that players encounter has a backstory and motivations that they pursue - that might even include a romantic relationship with the protagonist, Kuruna. Strengthening ties to NPCs can yield a slew of benefits, like combat companions and perhaps even the chance that they will show up to save your from the brink of death itself!
Players take on the role of Kuruna, a young adventurer who travels the kingdom of Verad to help those in need. Some strange activities have been reported in the province of Hummingwoods, so Kuruna begins a patrol of the area that quickly becomes much more than she ever imagined.
Keep an eye out for Pixel Princess Blitz sometime next year on PC.
View full article

Here is a bit of news you might have missed in the deluge of information and releases: Double Fine, the developers behind Psychonauts, Headlander, and Grim Fandango Remaster, are moving forward with their plans to remake the LucasArts rock'n roll adventure title Full Throttle. Last year the studio announced plans for several games, but Full Throttle Remastered was mentioned as almost an afterthought. However, more details have been released alongside a new trailer.
Full Throttle focuses on the story of Ben, the leader of a biker gang known as the Polecats, who gets swept up into an escalating series of events involving treachery, espionage, and even murder. The game was penned by David Grossman and Tim Schafer, the founder and current head of Double Fine. Full Throttle is considered by many to be one of, if not THE, best adventure games to come out of LucasArts during their domination of the adventure game genre.
The remaster will feature overhauled art in both 2D and 3D alongside revamped audio. Much like the Grim Fandango remaster, players will be able to switch between the original and the newly polished graphics. Players will also be able to tweak the audio and UI between old and new. Double Fine plans to include a number of extras inside Full Throttle Remastered including a concept art gallery and a commentary track from Tim Schafer and others who worked on the original game (game developers/publishers, include more commentary tracks with your games - they are super interesting!).
Full Throttle Remastered is slated for a 2017 release window for PlayStation 4, PS Vita, and PC.

Here is a bit of news you might have missed in the deluge of information and releases: Double Fine, the developers behind Psychonauts, Headlander, and Grim Fandango Remaster, are moving forward with their plans to remake the LucasArts rock'n roll adventure title Full Throttle. Last year the studio announced plans for several games, but Full Throttle Remastered was mentioned as almost an afterthought. However, more details have been released alongside a new trailer.
Full Throttle focuses on the story of Ben, the leader of a biker gang known as the Polecats, who gets swept up into an escalating series of events involving treachery, espionage, and even murder. The game was penned by David Grossman and Tim Schafer, the founder and current head of Double Fine. Full Throttle is considered by many to be one of, if not THE, best adventure games to come out of LucasArts during their domination of the adventure game genre.
The remaster will feature overhauled art in both 2D and 3D alongside revamped audio. Much like the Grim Fandango remaster, players will be able to switch between the original and the newly polished graphics. Players will also be able to tweak the audio and UI between old and new. Double Fine plans to include a number of extras inside Full Throttle Remastered including a concept art gallery and a commentary track from Tim Schafer and others who worked on the original game (game developers/publishers, include more commentary tracks with your games - they are super interesting!).
Full Throttle Remastered is slated for a 2017 release window for PlayStation 4, PS Vita, and PC.
View full article

Atlus has announced that the remake of Vanillaware's classic PlayStation 2 action RPG will be making its way to PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 3 on June 7th. Inspired by Norse mythology, Odin Sphere tells the story of five characters as they cross paths amid kingdoms warring for power as the world teeters toward oblivion. Vanillaware has become known for their visually striking games and it will be a real treat to see how the remastered version looks in action.
When it releases in June, certain retailers will include a 64-page softcover art book with the standard purchase of Odin Sphere. A limited Storybook Edition will be available for PlayStation 4 as well. The Storybook Edition, priced at $79.99, includes a hardcover version of the art book, a t-shirt, a metal case for the game, an art print, and unique outer packaging.
This is one to keep an eye on if you own a Vita and are looking for quality games to add to your mobile library.
View full article

Atlus has announced that the remake of Vanillaware's classic PlayStation 2 action RPG will be making its way to PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 3 on June 7th. Inspired by Norse mythology, Odin Sphere tells the story of five characters as they cross paths amid kingdoms warring for power as the world teeters toward oblivion. Vanillaware has become known for their visually striking games and it will be a real treat to see how the remastered version looks in action.
When it releases in June, certain retailers will include a 64-page softcover art book with the standard purchase of Odin Sphere. A limited Storybook Edition will be available for PlayStation 4 as well. The Storybook Edition, priced at $79.99, includes a hardcover version of the art book, a t-shirt, a metal case for the game, an art print, and unique outer packaging.
This is one to keep an eye on if you own a Vita and are looking for quality games to add to your mobile library.

Indie developer Heart Machine's foray into a world of pixels and adventure is aiming to be more than the sum of its parts.
At fist glance, Hyper Light Drifter appears to be a pixelated, stylish take on the classic Zelda formula that's been a go-to template for game designers for decades. However, Heart Machine hopes to differentiate itself by implementing some of its own concepts, like a narrative expressed through visual design and an atmosphere conveyed by a canny soundtrack. From what we've seen of the development so far, Heart Machine seems to be on the right track.
The approach to combat centers on the idea that the player should feel empowered when stepping onto the battlefield. Fighting should feel like it has weight with strong visual and audio cues resonating throughout a combat scenario. While conflicts should be fast, brutal affairs, Hyper Light Drifter is also attempting to satisfy its audience on a tactical level. There are many different enemy types that behave differently on the battlefield. Some adversaries will dodge or deflect attacks, others will attack en masse, and others will command legions of weaker creatures.
In one of my favorite developer statements, Heart Machine had this to say regarding their game's emphasis on visual narrative, "We chose to recognize that gamers are smart." Hyper Light Drifter eschews text blocks, heavy handed exposition, and confusing UI in favor of a sleek, less-is-more approach. The idea is that the player should be immersed in the world and not be continually called out of it to consult maps and decipher their stats screen. Quests and dialogue will be conveyed in storyboard-like sequences that use color and music to effectively convey their meaning across language barriers.
The soundtrack of Hyper Light Drifter is being handled by Disasterpeace, the artist behind the soundscapes of Fez and Runner2. The sound will work together with the visuals to create a mounting aura of anxiety as players venture deeper into the ravaged world of ancient technology better left forgotten.
Hyper Light Drifter has come a long way from its hugely successful Kickstarter campaign last year. We can barely wait to get out hands on Heart Machine's creation and delve into the secrets of the future-past.
Hyper Light Drifter is slated to release later this year on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4, Vita, and Wii U.
View full article

Indie developer Heart Machine's foray into a world of pixels and adventure is aiming to be more than the sum of its parts.
At fist glance, Hyper Light Drifter appears to be a pixelated, stylish take on the classic Zelda formula that's been a go-to template for game designers for decades. However, Heart Machine hopes to differentiate itself by implementing some of its own concepts, like a narrative expressed through visual design and an atmosphere conveyed by a canny soundtrack. From what we've seen of the development so far, Heart Machine seems to be on the right track.
The approach to combat centers on the idea that the player should feel empowered when stepping onto the battlefield. Fighting should feel like it has weight with strong visual and audio cues resonating throughout a combat scenario. While conflicts should be fast, brutal affairs, Hyper Light Drifter is also attempting to satisfy its audience on a tactical level. There are many different enemy types that behave differently on the battlefield. Some adversaries will dodge or deflect attacks, others will attack en masse, and others will command legions of weaker creatures.
In one of my favorite developer statements, Heart Machine had this to say regarding their game's emphasis on visual narrative, "We chose to recognize that gamers are smart." Hyper Light Drifter eschews text blocks, heavy handed exposition, and confusing UI in favor of a sleek, less-is-more approach. The idea is that the player should be immersed in the world and not be continually called out of it to consult maps and decipher their stats screen. Quests and dialogue will be conveyed in storyboard-like sequences that use color and music to effectively convey their meaning across language barriers.
The soundtrack of Hyper Light Drifter is being handled by Disasterpeace, the artist behind the soundscapes of Fez and Runner2. The sound will work together with the visuals to create a mounting aura of anxiety as players venture deeper into the ravaged world of ancient technology better left forgotten.
Hyper Light Drifter has come a long way from its hugely successful Kickstarter campaign last year. We can barely wait to get out hands on Heart Machine's creation and delve into the secrets of the future-past.
Hyper Light Drifter is slated to release later this year on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 4, Vita, and Wii U.

Mojang, the developer behind Minecraft, posted to the PlayStation blog this morning that the popular PC, mobile, and Xbox 360 world building game will be coming to PlayStation 3 tomorrow.
That Minecraft is coming to PS3 comes as little surprise in the wake of announcements to port the title to both Vita and PlayStation 4. Tomorrow, PlayStation gamers will be able to get their hands on the same version of the game that is currently available on other platforms. From now on, all future console editions of Minecraft will be developed together, presumably releasing at similar times.
Downloadable skins and texture packs will be available on PSN shortly after the game's launch. Console exclusive content might be making an appearance in the near future as well.
As always, when asked if the mythical Herobrine will appear in the latest iteration of Minecraft the answer was, "Probably not."
Minecraft is an amazing game and one I personally love playing. This comes as welcome news for Sony gamers who have yet to experience the terror of the first night or the discovery of The End.
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Mojang, the developer behind Minecraft, posted to the PlayStation blog this morning that the popular PC, mobile, and Xbox 360 world building game will be coming to PlayStation 3 tomorrow.
That Minecraft is coming to PS3 comes as little surprise in the wake of announcements to port the title to both Vita and PlayStation 4. Tomorrow, PlayStation gamers will be able to get their hands on the same version of the game that is currently available on other platforms. From now on, all future console editions of Minecraft will be developed together, presumably releasing at similar times.
Downloadable skins and texture packs will be available on PSN shortly after the game's launch. Console exclusive content might be making an appearance in the near future as well.
As always, when asked if the mythical Herobrine will appear in the latest iteration of Minecraft the answer was, "Probably not."
Minecraft is an amazing game and one I personally love playing. This comes as welcome news for Sony gamers who have yet to experience the terror of the first night or the discovery of The End.

Vault Hunters and lovers of swag rejoice! Borderlands 2's contest with $100,000 worth of prizes is now in progress.
From now until November 7, players who have purchased the Borderlands 2 Game of the Year edition or who have purchased the DLC can register a SHiFT account. SHiFT will track the participant's in-game stats, automatically entering into the contest upon completing the daily challenges. Each entry increases the likelihood of winning the prizes, and oh, what prizes there are!
According to the loot hunt website:
In addition to the many weekly sponsored prizes, one lucky loot hunter will win a grand prize of $50,000, and four others will win varying amounts of cash totaling another $50,000 along with other great prizes including:
PlayStation Vitas with copies of Borderlands 2 for the PS Vita once it's out
Custom Borderlands 2 Turtle Beach headsets
An Nvidia Shield PC Streaming set-up with a Tiki PC by Falcon Northwest
Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti GFX cards
Borderlands 2 Game of the Year Edition Strategy Guides by BradyGames
Lifetime supplies to all 2K titles on Steam – past, present, and future
To clarify that last bullet point: YOU CAN WIN A LIFETIME OF FREE 2K TITLES. In addition to all of that, each target of the daily challenges will drop loot that can be used to earn community-wide prizes.
Finally, significant stat boosts to existing weapons are expected in the near future.
For more information or to register your SHiFT account, head over to borderlands2loothunt.com and get shooting.
View full article

Vault Hunters and lovers of swag rejoice! Borderlands 2's contest with $100,000 worth of prizes is now in progress.
From now until November 7, players who have purchased the Borderlands 2 Game of the Year edition or who have purchased the DLC can register a SHiFT account. SHiFT will track the participant's in-game stats, automatically entering into the contest upon completing the daily challenges. Each entry increases the likelihood of winning the prizes, and oh, what prizes there are!
According to the loot hunt website:
In addition to the many weekly sponsored prizes, one lucky loot hunter will win a grand prize of $50,000, and four others will win varying amounts of cash totaling another $50,000 along with other great prizes including:
PlayStation Vitas with copies of Borderlands 2 for the PS Vita once it's out
Custom Borderlands 2 Turtle Beach headsets
An Nvidia Shield PC Streaming set-up with a Tiki PC by Falcon Northwest
Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti GFX cards
Borderlands 2 Game of the Year Edition Strategy Guides by BradyGames
Lifetime supplies to all 2K titles on Steam – past, present, and future
To clarify that last bullet point: YOU CAN WIN A LIFETIME OF FREE 2K TITLES. In addition to all of that, each target of the daily challenges will drop loot that can be used to earn community-wide prizes.
Finally, significant stat boosts to existing weapons are expected in the near future.
For more information or to register your SHiFT account, head over to borderlands2loothunt.com and get shooting.

People are busy and sometimes they just don’t have two hours to sit down and watch video game PR people talk about new releases and gizmos. Thankfully, you have us.
Sony kicked off their press event by debuting the user interface of the PlayStation 4. The UI looked very similar to the PS3’s current mode of operation. Without some hands-on operation, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact differences. The addition Sony wanted to direct the majority of attention to was the ability to hop into live online games on the fly with friends. Sony’s president of worldwide studios, Shuhei Yoshida, demonstrated the speed of the new UI by jumping into the final minute of a Killzone: Shadow Fall multiplayer match.
Following the user interface demonstration, the show’s main presenter, Jim Ryan, took the stage to show off a new trailer for Grand Turismo 6. Polyphony will be introducing the latest concept cars from various manufacturers that will only be appearing in GT6. The new Grand Turismo title will be dropping December 6. Ryan also announced that Polyphony is working with Sony Pictures to develop a feature film based on the Grand Turismo Academy from GT6.
Next, Sony presented a new, free-to-play collection of creation tools and games in the form of LittleBigPlanet Hub. Players will have access to tons of free content and will be able to purchase other digital items and tools as they see fit.
At Grand Theft Auto V’s launch on Sept 17, there will be a PS3 bundle available as well as an elite headset. Starting today, any gamer that pre-orders GTA V will receive 75% off other Rockstar games.
Sony, proving that they firmly believe in the Vita’s future, announced several titles that are being ported to the handheld including: Batman: Arkham Origins, Lego Marvel, Football Manager Classic 2014, and Borderlands 2. They also announced that several major indie games would be making their way to the device such as Starbound, Fez, and Velocity 2X. These three titles will also be coming to PS4. The Vita will be receiving a price drop to $199 as well as significant reductions to memory card prices.
Following these announcements, several new titles were announced for Vita. First, Ovosonico’s Murasaki Baby tasks players with leading a child safely through a nightmare fantasy world that looks like Tim Burton and the animators behind The Yellow Submarine got together. Using touch controls, players will quite literally take the child by the hand and lead them through the various dangers like nose monsters and thunderstorms.
BigFest, a music management game, is another title coming to Vita. Tasking gamers with throwing the best music festival ever, players will design the festival and organize the music to be as successful as possible. In a unique twist, all of the music players can promote is written and performed by real, unsigned bands and Big Fest could actually influence their careers depending on how well you manage your festivals. The game also has co-op and competitive modes, but we aren’t sure yet how they function.
In addition to these two new titles, the PC indie hit Rogue Legacy will make its way to PS4 and Vita next year along with Edmund McMillain’s The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth next spring. PlayStation Plus subscribers get The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth for free. N++ will make its debut on PS4 sometime soon. Exclusively on PS4 this winter, the creator of Thomas Was Alone, will be bringing his next game, Volume, to PS4 and Vita. Guns of Icarus Online is also coming to PS4 next year. Vlambeer, the developer behind Ridiculous Fishing, is bringing their self-described “Rogue-like-like” title Wasteland Kings to PS4 and Vita next year. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number will be a console exclusive for the PS4 and Vita next year.
Several new exclusive titles were announced for PlayStation 4. The Chinese Room’s mysterious Everybody’s Gone to The Rapture made its debut with a new trailer. Tequila Works’ Rime also surfaced, looking like Ico crossed with a Miyazaki film. Hell Divers, a new game from Arrowhead, is coming to PS4, PS3, and Vita. It appears to feature co-operative alien fighting gameplay mildly reminiscent of what the team achieved with Magicka. A reimagined version of an Amiga game of the same name, Shadow of the Beast, will be making its way to PS4.
The Playroom, a suite of mini-games and interactive toys, will be pre-installed on every PS4. Playroom uses the DualShock 4 and PlayStation camera to provide party games and gimmicky fun.
A new InFamous: Second Son trailer was shown, as well as new multiplayer footage of Killzone: Shadow Fall.
In a bit of a surprise announcement, Twitch.tv will be coming to PS4, presumably in the form of an app similar to what you can find on the Xbox 360. However, it will probably not function as an alternative to the built-in Ustream in-game streaming.
Music Unlimited will allow gamers to listen to music while playing games. And easily control their music selection with the DualShock 4 controller.
European internet access can sometimes be insufficient to play online. However, Sony is partnering with some of Europe’s leading ISPs to offer broadband packages that give attractive bonuses for gamers. It is unknown if similar packages will be available in North American markets. Additional details on these offers will be coming in the near future.
Ubisoft showed off the Vita’s remote gameplay capabilities with a PS4 copy of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. We are really hoping that remote play works as well as it appears on stage (something that has historically been spotty at best). A new Watch_Dogs trailer was shown and Ubisoft announced that a film based on Watch_Dogs is in the works.
Unsurprisingly, Minecraft will be available on PS4 at launch, marking the moment when you will be able to play Minecraft on literally every single electronic device ever constructed.
The final game announced was War Thunder from Gaijin (not to be confused with Gaijin Games). War Thunder is a free-to-play, next-gen, WWII combat MMO with literally hundreds of aircraft, ground vehicles, over 100,000 km2 of battle area, co-op modes, a mission editor, and five nations with unique weapons battling for world domination.
The closing bullet points of Sony’s conference were more like bombshells. First, the 12GB PS3 price will be dropped to $199. Second, players who buy the PS3 versions of Battlefield 4, Assassin’s Creed IV, Call of Duty Ghosts, or Watch_Dogs will be able to buy their PS4 counterparts at “a significantly discounted price.” Third, players were reminded that all PS4 games playable via remote play on Vita.
Finally, priced at $399, the PlayStation 4 will be launching in 32 countries and available in North America on November 15.
If you are interested, you can view the official stream of the conference for yourself.
What do you think about the PS4 and its launch line-up? Pre-ordering? No? Let us know what you think!

People are busy and sometimes they just don’t have two hours to sit down and watch video game PR people talk about new releases and gizmos. Thankfully, you have us.
Sony kicked off their press event by debuting the user interface of the PlayStation 4. The UI looked very similar to the PS3’s current mode of operation. Without some hands-on operation, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact differences. The addition Sony wanted to direct the majority of attention to was the ability to hop into live online games on the fly with friends. Sony’s president of worldwide studios, Shuhei Yoshida, demonstrated the speed of the new UI by jumping into the final minute of a Killzone: Shadow Fall multiplayer match.
Following the user interface demonstration, the show’s main presenter, Jim Ryan, took the stage to show off a new trailer for Grand Turismo 6. Polyphony will be introducing the latest concept cars from various manufacturers that will only be appearing in GT6. The new Grand Turismo title will be dropping December 6. Ryan also announced that Polyphony is working with Sony Pictures to develop a feature film based on the Grand Turismo Academy from GT6.
Next, Sony presented a new, free-to-play collection of creation tools and games in the form of LittleBigPlanet Hub. Players will have access to tons of free content and will be able to purchase other digital items and tools as they see fit.
At Grand Theft Auto V’s launch on Sept 17, there will be a PS3 bundle available as well as an elite headset. Starting today, any gamer that pre-orders GTA V will receive 75% off other Rockstar games.
Sony, proving that they firmly believe in the Vita’s future, announced several titles that are being ported to the handheld including: Batman: Arkham Origins, Lego Marvel, Football Manager Classic 2014, and Borderlands 2. They also announced that several major indie games would be making their way to the device such as Starbound, Fez, and Velocity 2X. These three titles will also be coming to PS4. The Vita will be receiving a price drop to $199 as well as significant reductions to memory card prices.
Following these announcements, several new titles were announced for Vita. First, Ovosonico’s Murasaki Baby tasks players with leading a child safely through a nightmare fantasy world that looks like Tim Burton and the animators behind The Yellow Submarine got together. Using touch controls, players will quite literally take the child by the hand and lead them through the various dangers like nose monsters and thunderstorms.
BigFest, a music management game, is another title coming to Vita. Tasking gamers with throwing the best music festival ever, players will design the festival and organize the music to be as successful as possible. In a unique twist, all of the music players can promote is written and performed by real, unsigned bands and Big Fest could actually influence their careers depending on how well you manage your festivals. The game also has co-op and competitive modes, but we aren’t sure yet how they function.
In addition to these two new titles, the PC indie hit Rogue Legacy will make its way to PS4 and Vita next year along with Edmund McMillain’s The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth next spring. PlayStation Plus subscribers get The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth for free. N++ will make its debut on PS4 sometime soon. Exclusively on PS4 this winter, the creator of Thomas Was Alone, will be bringing his next game, Volume, to PS4 and Vita. Guns of Icarus Online is also coming to PS4 next year. Vlambeer, the developer behind Ridiculous Fishing, is bringing their self-described “Rogue-like-like” title Wasteland Kings to PS4 and Vita next year. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number will be a console exclusive for the PS4 and Vita next year.
Several new exclusive titles were announced for PlayStation 4. The Chinese Room’s mysterious Everybody’s Gone to The Rapture made its debut with a new trailer. Tequila Works’ Rime also surfaced, looking like Ico crossed with a Miyazaki film. Hell Divers, a new game from Arrowhead, is coming to PS4, PS3, and Vita. It appears to feature co-operative alien fighting gameplay mildly reminiscent of what the team achieved with Magicka. A reimagined version of an Amiga game of the same name, Shadow of the Beast, will be making its way to PS4.
The Playroom, a suite of mini-games and interactive toys, will be pre-installed on every PS4. Playroom uses the DualShock 4 and PlayStation camera to provide party games and gimmicky fun.
A new InFamous: Second Son trailer was shown, as well as new multiplayer footage of Killzone: Shadow Fall.
In a bit of a surprise announcement, Twitch.tv will be coming to PS4, presumably in the form of an app similar to what you can find on the Xbox 360. However, it will probably not function as an alternative to the built-in Ustream in-game streaming.
Music Unlimited will allow gamers to listen to music while playing games. And easily control their music selection with the DualShock 4 controller.
European internet access can sometimes be insufficient to play online. However, Sony is partnering with some of Europe’s leading ISPs to offer broadband packages that give attractive bonuses for gamers. It is unknown if similar packages will be available in North American markets. Additional details on these offers will be coming in the near future.
Ubisoft showed off the Vita’s remote gameplay capabilities with a PS4 copy of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. We are really hoping that remote play works as well as it appears on stage (something that has historically been spotty at best). A new Watch_Dogs trailer was shown and Ubisoft announced that a film based on Watch_Dogs is in the works.
Unsurprisingly, Minecraft will be available on PS4 at launch, marking the moment when you will be able to play Minecraft on literally every single electronic device ever constructed.
The final game announced was War Thunder from Gaijin (not to be confused with Gaijin Games). War Thunder is a free-to-play, next-gen, WWII combat MMO with literally hundreds of aircraft, ground vehicles, over 100,000 km2 of battle area, co-op modes, a mission editor, and five nations with unique weapons battling for world domination.
The closing bullet points of Sony’s conference were more like bombshells. First, the 12GB PS3 price will be dropped to $199. Second, players who buy the PS3 versions of Battlefield 4, Assassin’s Creed IV, Call of Duty Ghosts, or Watch_Dogs will be able to buy their PS4 counterparts at “a significantly discounted price.” Third, players were reminded that all PS4 games playable via remote play on Vita.
Finally, priced at $399, the PlayStation 4 will be launching in 32 countries and available in North America on November 15.
If you are interested, you can view the official stream of the conference for yourself.
What do you think about the PS4 and its launch line-up? Pre-ordering? No? Let us know what you think!
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Naughty Dog’s acclaimed PlayStation 2 trilogy about a young, pointy-eared man named Jak and his companion Daxter is coming to PS Vita. The collection includes Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II, and Jak 3. While the graphics won’t be as high quality as the PS3 release of the collection, the graphical quality will be on par or better than the original PS2 releases. Several new features have been added into the Vita release including touch screen functionality for some mini games and a full list of trophies that will be different from the PS3 version.
For those unfamiliar with the series, the Jak and Daxter titles are action-platformers that tell the story of Jak and his battle to save the world by utilizing his ability to manipulate an energy source called Eco. Throughout the games, a core part of the story revolves around the partnership between Jak and his best friend Daxter, who is transformed early on in the first game into an Ottsel (a fictional and adorable otter-weasel hybrid). The series takes place over a number of years with players watching Jak and Daxter grow up and mature as the series progresses. Likewise, the storytelling techniques mature and the scope of the duo's adventures expand.
The Jak and Daxter Collection for Vita will be released sometime in June and will retail for $29.99.

Naughty Dog’s acclaimed PlayStation 2 trilogy about a young, pointy-eared man named Jak and his companion Daxter is coming to PS Vita. The collection includes Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II, and Jak 3. While the graphics won’t be as high quality as the PS3 release of the collection, the graphical quality will be on par or better than the original PS2 releases. Several new features have been added into the Vita release including touch screen functionality for some mini games and a full list of trophies that will be different from the PS3 version.
For those unfamiliar with the series, the Jak and Daxter titles are action-platformers that tell the story of Jak and his battle to save the world by utilizing his ability to manipulate an energy source called Eco. Throughout the games, a core part of the story revolves around the partnership between Jak and his best friend Daxter, who is transformed early on in the first game into an Ottsel (a fictional and adorable otter-weasel hybrid). The series takes place over a number of years with players watching Jak and Daxter grow up and mature as the series progresses. Likewise, the storytelling techniques mature and the scope of the duo's adventures expand.
The Jak and Daxter Collection for Vita will be released sometime in June and will retail for $29.99.
View full article